Splash bars...anyone want to share their experiences?

[cape_fisherman]

Thinking about purchasing some splash bars with the purpose of being able to position them further back in the spread vs traditional bars. My understanding is the bird up front gives them more lift thus allowing you to better adjust their position when fishing in a small boat.

I have run the traditional bars and I am trying to determine if they are worth the price to add to the spread. Sometimes the fish don't like the stuff further from the boat.

R

Are you having problems getting bites with your spread close to the boat?

Jay

[Free Spirit]

I am amazed at the difference that splash bars make in my spread. I got some from Chuck at tournament cable ,http://www.tournamentcable.com/pgs/and they have made a heck of a difference. They can be fished anywhere and are easy to fish since they tend to ride up on the surface much better than a simple spreader bar. I have caught both bluefin and yellowfin on them and they are always in my spread. Matter of fact, I have 3 and need to get a couple more. A precaution on using them. Be sure that the bar is oriented with the splash bird running right side up. If you set the bar with the splash bird running upside down, the whole bar will go down like a planer and you will have to stop the boat to get it up. My bites on the splash bar far outnumber the hits on the spreader bars since I started using them last year.

[SeaTek]

Stalker Outfitters makes a great version of a "splash bar." It deploys multiple smaller birds and creates an incredible commotion. It too works well farther back in the spread and definitely gets bites.

[calico]

You can buy just the spreader bar on bass pro shops.com I do that and then I buy the squids separate. You save about 100 dollars and you get to choose whatever color or colors you want.

[Radiater]

Are you having problems getting bites with your spread close to the boat?

Jay

Yes. I have run as many as 4 bars with two near the flat line position and one a little further back in the propwash and one in between. Squids varied in size from 6" to 15" and colors from natural to rainbow including green...NO JOY.

I thought maybe the fish wanted them a little further back in the spread and I had difficulty getting them to run properly further back.


R

[Wasabi]

Please excuse my ignorance, guys. What defines a splash bar and what makes it different from a spreader bar. I looked at some splash bars they were just a spreader bar and then I looked at another and it was a giant plastic looking wedge.